Cho Wins Two Event Titles as Illinois Competes at Big 4 Meet in Minnesota

RECAP

MINNEAPOLIS – Illinois took part in its annual Big 4 meet at Minnesota on Sunday afternoon, scoring a 195.650 as a team. Chloe Cho continued her sensational sophomore season by winning the event titles on bars and beam while setting a new career-high all-around score of 39.575.

Cho's all-around score is tied for the sixth-best in program history, while it is the best for an Illini since 2022, when Mia Takekawa set the program record of 39.750 against Bowling Green.

The Fighting Illini finished fourth at the quad meet, coming behind No. 13 Minnesota, No. 11 Michigan State, and Rutgers.

"We are so proud of our girls," said head coach Josh Nilson. "They stuck together and fought the whole way through. Every incredible team makes a decision to climb out of the trenches. We are in the trenches, and future teams will benefit from this season. All teams want to win, but few pay the price. This team is gaining valuable experience and paying the price to be a highly experienced team moving forward.

"Chloe broke her own all-around record and won beam and bars. Summer got her career-high on beam. Piper had the most complete meet she has had so far. Eden is becoming more comfortable with her 1 1/2 on vault. A lot of great things happened tonight, and there's a lot to build on."

The Illini began the day on vault, posting a 48.700 as a team. Cho led the way for the Orange and Blue with a 9.800, good for a 10th-place finish, while Alea Byrne's 9.775 marked the squad's second-highest score.

On bars, Cho secured her seventh outing with at least a 9.900, taking the event title with her 9.925. Destiny Denning tallied a 9.800 on the apparatus, which saw her take 15th place, while the Illini collectively logged a 48.975.

As the meet reached the halfway point, the Illini registered its highest score of the afternoon with a 49.000 on beam. Cho's career-high 9.950 helped her win her second event title of the day, while Summer Clancy set a career-best score of her own with a 9.900 en route to a sixth-place finish.

The final rotation saw the Orange and Blue compete on floor, scoring a 148.975. Cho was the Illini's highest scorer once again, notching a 9.900, while Tali Joelson claimed the team's next best tally with a 9.825.